Disposable immobilizing splint



Feb. 24, 1970 c. s. ANDERSON 3,496,934

DISPOSABLE IMMOBILIZING SPLINT Filed Dec. 4, 1967 wig M1 14 z United States Patent 3,496,934 DISPOSABLE IMMOBILIZING SPLINT Chester S. Anderson, 2 North Ave., St. Charles, 111. 60174 Filed Dec. 4, 1967, Ser. No. 687,676 Int. Cl. A61f 5/04 US. Cl. 128-88 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A disposable immobilizing accident kit having a series of immobilizing members formed of a rigid cardboard or similar material including an arm immobilizing member or splint and a leg immobilizing member or splint, each of which are formed with converging score lines to aid in conforming to the arm or leg to be immobilized, and a plurality of laces which are secured to the splint adjacent one longitudinal edge of the member and are wound around the member and ties or otherwise secured to retain the member around the arm or leg. The laces each have an enlarged button secured to one end, and the lace is threaded into and out of the splint through spaced holes, and the free end of the lace is brought up and wound a half turn around the lace end between the button and the splint and then wound around the exterior of the splint member and adapted to be wound around the lace adjacent the button to retain the splint on the immobilized member.

The present invention relates to means or fittings for immobilizing an ambulance patient and more particularly to a novel disposable immobilizing accident kit having a series of immobilizing members formed of a relatively heavy rigid waterproof cardboard, corrugated paperboard or similar generally rigid material.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of novel means for immobilizing an injured limb or limbs of an ambulance patient constructed of a relatively heavy waterproof material such as cardboard or corrugated paperboard which can be carried substantially fiat in an ambulance or other vehicle and requires a minimum of space. The cardboard fittings include fastening or securing means used as binding to retain the immobilizing means on the patient. Once the immobilizing means is applied to the patient, it will retain the injured member or members or portions of the patient immobile, thus preventing more serious complications or the compounding of any injury.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of means for immobilizing the injured member or members of the body of an ambulance patient formed of heavy paper stock or cardboard which is so constructed and arranged as to readily conform to the contour of and encase the injured body portion or portions of the patient. The immobilizing means includes members for protection of an arm or leg.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of disposable or discardable means for immobilizing an ambulance patient which is sanitary for use on a patient and may be thrown away or otherwise disposed of after use. Thus, there is no problem of sterilizing the immobilizing means for reuse.

The present invention also comprehends the provision of an arm and/ or leg immobilizing means or splints each formed of a single piece of heavy cardboard which is contoured or curved around and protects the arm or leg of the patient. Each member is of a general fan or wedge shape and has a curved upper edge and a lower portion which is partially cut away to expose the ankle and foot or hand and wrist of the patient. The members have conice verging score lines to allow the member to conform to the arm or leg. Lace means are secured adjacent one longitudinal edge of the member and are wound around the member and the body member therein and are tied or otherwise secured to retain the member on the arm or leg.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of arm and leg splint members formed of a waterproof rigid cardboard or similar material to provide maximum strength and rigidity in use. The cardboard is impregnated or otherwise treated with a suitable wax or resin to render the cardboard impervious to fluid such as moisture or blood of the patient. Such imperviousness to moisture or blood aids in retaining the strength and rigidity of the members.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efiiciency, economy and ease of assembly, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an open plan view of a sheet of cardboard cut to proper dimensions for an arm immobilizing means.

FIG. 2 is an open plan view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the exterior or reverse side of the immobilizing means.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view showing a lace means being applied to the cardboard for an arm or leg immobilizing means.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view showing the method of wrapping the immobilizing means around the limb of the patient.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the arm immobilizing means conforming to and laced onto the arm of a patient.

FIG. 6 is an open plan view of a sheet of cardboard cut to proper dimensions for a leg immobilizing means.

A patient who has been injured in an accident many times must be prepared for transportation in an ambulance or other suitable vehicle to a hospital or doctors oflice for treatment. If the injured person has a fractured limb or limbs, the injured limb or limbs of the patient should be immediately immobilized to prevent further injury, complications or compounding of the injuries which have already occurred.

The immobilizing means of the present invention includes one or more arm and/0r leg immobilizing members, all of which are formed of a relatively heavy paperboard or cardboard including corrugated paperboard. If corrugated paperboard is utilized, the fiuting of the corrugations is oriented to extend longitudinally of the members to provide maximum strength and rigidity for the immobilizing of an injured member. The paperboard should have a high wet strength and be resistant to penetration by moisture or blood. To create this imperviousmess, the paperboard or cardboard is treated with Wet strength resins and/ or wax. The final product should be a cardboard or paperboard such as disclosed in the Oas et al. Patents Nos. 3,187,980 and 3,196,021.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawing wherein are shown illustrative embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 1 discloses a paperboard sheet to form an arm immobilizing member or splint 10 utilized to immobilize a patients arm and hand including both the upper and lower arm and elbow retained in a straight line position. As seen in FIG. 1, the arm immobilizing member 10 is of a general fan shape having a sinuous upper edge 11 having convex ends 12, and concave portions 13 and a central convex upwardly curved portion or hump 14; the curvature of this edge 11 conforming for reception under the arm below the shoulder of the patient for comfort. The arm member has a lower tapered end of reduced width with the member being generally symmetrical about the center score line 16. The reduced portion 15 supports but exposes the hand and wrist of the patient.

A plurality of slightly converging score lines 17 are formed in the member 10 on either side of center score line 16 so that the arm member may be bent around and conform to the arm of the patient as seen in FIGS. 35; the member conforming to the differences in size between the upper arm and the wrist. One side 18 of the arm member 10 is formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of openings 19, 19 and on the opposite edge 21 with spaced slits 22 for lacing means 23.

The lacing means 23 includes a button 24 and a lace 26 secured at one end 27 to the button 24, such as by passing the lace through openings formed in the button and knotting or otherwise securing the lace end 27. To secure a lacing means 23 to the arm immobilizing member 10, the free end 28 of the lace 26 is inserted into the opening 19 from the exterior 29 of the member 10 and passed through the adjacent opening 19 from the interior to the exterior thereof. The lace is then brought up and wound a half turn as at 30 around the lace end 27 adjacent the button 24 and then passed around the exterior 29 of the member and inserted into the aligned slit 22 on the opposite edge 21 with the remainder of the lace 26 hanging free. This procedure is repeated for the remainder of the lace means 23 and the immobilizing member 10 is assembled for use.

In use, the arm immobilizing member 10 is placed under the arm of the patient and folded or bent around the arm as seen in FIG. 4 to conform closely thereto with the edge 21 of the member 10 being inserted under the side 18; the laces 26 having been pulled free of the slits 22. Each lace is then wound around the formed member 10 and wound several times around the lace end 27 adjacent the button 24. As the lace 26 is wound around the lace end 27 adjacent the button 24 at the exterior 29 of the member 10 both to secure the lacing means 23 to the member and to retain the member 10 on the arm of the patient, there is no danger of the lace 26 pulling and tearing the member 10 at the openings 19, 19 as all pulling is exerted on the lacing alone.

This arm immobilizing member 10 is versatile in use as it can be applied to immobilize an adults arm, a childs leg or an adults leg below the knee. FIG. 6 discloses a larger size of immobilizing means to be utilized to immobilize an adults leg, or this member can be successfully used to support an infants body. This member is fan-shaped with a sinuous upper edge 32 but having a slightly different edge configuration than the arm immobilizing member 10; the curved convex end portions 33 merging into concave edges 34 and the intermediate hump 35 being higher than the end portions 33.

The member 31 has a reduced width at 36 to expose the ankle and foot of the patient. The member is symmetrical about a center score line 37 and has slightly converging score lines 38 to conform to the varying contours or dimensions of the patients leg. The leg immobilizing member 31 utilizes the lace means 23 shown in conjunction with the arm immobilizing means 10 with member 31 having longitudinally spaced pairs of openings adjacent one edge 41 and the opposite edge 42 having spaced slits 43. The lacing means 23 is secured to and used with the leg immobilizing member 31 in the same manner as for the arm member 10.

This immobilizing kit having the arm immobilizing members 10 and leg immobilizing members 31 can be easily and conveniently carried and stored flat or rolled 7 up in an ambulance or other vehicle in a minimum of space and ready for immediate use. The arm and leg immobilizing members may also be carried either flat or rolled up by a person in a pack or stored at ski resorts, etc. When the immobilizing members have served their purpose they are disposed of and/or destroyed thus 0bviating any need for sterilization. The members are sufficiently rigid to elfectively immobilize the limb of a patient until he is brought to a location for proper treatment. Furthermore, the novel construction of' these members permits their use on persons varying in height and weight so that only the two members need be carried and available.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. Means for immobilizing an arm or leg of a person, comprising a generally fan-shaped symmetrical sheet member having elongated longitudinal edges and a sinuous edge at one end, the sheet being of reduced width at the opposite end, said sheet having slightly converging score lines thereon converging toward the end of reduced width, and lace means to retain the member formed around the limb of the person.

2. Means for immobilizing an arm or leg of a person as set forth in claim 1, in which said lace means includes a button and an elongated lace having one end afiixed to the button and a free end, and said lace being threaded into the sheet member with the free end adapted to be wound around the sheet member formed around the limb of the person and secured to said button.

3. Means for immobilizing an arm or leg of a person as set forth in claim 2, in which said lace is threaded through the sheet member to position said button adjacent said sheet member.

4. Means for immobilizing an arm or leg of a person as set forth in claim 2, in which said sheet member has longitudinally spaced pairs of openings adjacent one edge thereof and aligned longitudinally spaced slits in the opposite edge thereof, said elongated lace being threaded through a pair of said openings with the button on the exterior of the member and passed around the exterior of the member and secured in the aligned slit.

5. Means for immobilizing an arm or leg of a person as set forth in claim 4, in which said lace is inserted into the outermost opening of said pair of openings from the exterior of the member to position the button adjaceent the member and through the other opening, said lace then being wound a half turn around the lace adjacent the button and passed around the member and inserted into said slit.

6. Means for immobilizing an arm or leg of a person as set forth in claim 5, in which said laces are pulled out of the slits when the sheet member is formed around the limb of the person and the free end of each lace is passed around said sheet member and limb and is wound around its associated button to retain the member on the limb.

7. Means for immobilizing an arm or leg of a person as set forth in claim 6, in which when said sheet member is formed around the limb of the person said one edge containing said spaced openings is positioned over said opposite edge containing the slits.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1946 Crawford 128-87 L. W. TRAPP, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

